Adhyāya 3: Indra’s Invitation and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Refusal to Abandon the Dog
Svargārohaṇa Test
अद्यापि मानुषो भाव: स्पृशते त्वां नराधिप । स्वर्गोडयं पश्य देवर्षीन् सिद्धांश्व त्रेदिवालयान्
adyāpi mānuṣo bhāvaḥ spṛśate tvāṃ narādhipa | svargodayaṃ paśya devarṣīn siddhāṃś ca traidivālayān ||
Waiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai raja, apakah rasa-keterbatasan manusia masih menyentuhmu? Inilah surga; pandanglah para dewa-ṛṣi dan para siddha yang bersemayam di alam tridiva.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Even at the threshold of the heavenly realm, a ruler may retain “human” hesitation—fear, doubt, or attachment. The verse urges a shift from mortal-mindedness to clear spiritual perception: recognize the higher order (dharma’s fruition) and witness the company of perfected beings, cultivating detachment and trust in the moral cosmos.
The narrator describes a moment where the king is addressed and prompted to look directly at the heavenly manifestation. He is told that this is Svarga and is urged to behold the celestial residents—Devarṣis and Siddhas—indicating a transition from the human journey to a supramundane setting and perspective.